Prostate cancer is the leading type of cancer in men in the United States, with over 240,000 men diagnosed and 30,000 thousand dying from it each year. Also, for reasons that are not completely understood, African American men have the highest rates for prostate cancer in the U.S., as 1 in 5 will get prostate cancer in their lifetime. African American are also 60 percent more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and 2.5 times likely to die of the disease.

When caught early, prostate cancer can be treated, usually successfully. But, because many men experience no symptoms, it is often identified only by an abnormal result on a basic prostate cancer screening called the PSA test. The PSA test is a blood test that measures prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by the prostate gland. An increase in the PSA level is often the only sign of early prostate cancer. The PSA test is also valuable in monitoring patients after healthcare advocates and cancer survivors across the country, a US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) Committee announced a recommendation that PSA testing should no longer be per-formed routinely on men in the United States and Europe suggesting that prostate cancer screening does not appear to improve survival in patients with this disease.

One of the major concerns raised by opponents of the recommendation is the fact that the studies that were sited lacked representation by African American participants. Thus, their results may not be applicable to that group of men. The USPSTF committee also failed to acknowledge felt that the bottom line is that fewer men are dying of prostate cancer and it is very likely that early detection has played a role in this outcome. Despite the decrease in death rates, African American men continue to carry a disproportionately higher death rate and, among men under the age of 60, are 4 times more likely to have metastatic disease at diagnosis.

There is currently ongoing research to find better screening strategies than the PSA test. However, until these tests have been confirmed, the PSA test continues to be important part of early detection and should not be blatantly discarded, especially as it applies to high risk populations such as African American men. It is comparable to “throwing the baby out with the bathwater,” and in this case, African American men are being thrown out with the bath-water.

Any man that is over 40 years of age should have meaningful dialogue with his health-care provider to understand the details of the PSA test, its value, and possible shortcomings. Prostate cancer screenings are not provided under the Affordable Care Act, so make sure you choose a health insurance policy that covers PSA screenings. However, regular prostate cancer screenings are provided by Medicare, so if you are retired, take advantage of this benefit. If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, also consider all options for treatment before making a decision, or if the cancer is not aggressive, talk to your doctor about active surveillance. As with any illness, make sure you get a second opinion before proceeding with any post-diagnosis path.

Prostate Cancer Awareness Week will be celebrated the week of September 16-22, 2012. During this time the Prostate Conditions Education Council (PCEC) is offering free prostate health assessments at over 500 locations across the country. To find a location near you visit www.prostateconditions.org/screening-site. Or you can call (303) 313-4685/Toll free: 1-866-4-PROST-8.

You can learn more about prostate cancer and other prostate health issues at the Prostate Health Resource Center www.prostatehealthguide.com.

Are you planning to celebrate Prostate Cancer Awareness Month? If so, let us know what you have planned by sending an email to info@menshealthnetwork.org.